Lance Briggs

Lance Marell Briggs (born November 12, 1980) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arizona Wildcats and was selected by the Bears in the third round of the 2003 NFL draft, where he played his entire 12-year career. He was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection. Briggs played alongside Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher during his tenure with the Bears. The two would be regarded as one of the greatest linebacker tandems in NFL history.

Early life A Sacramento, California native, Briggs attended Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove, California. While at the University of Arizona, he was a three-time first-team All-Pac-10 Conference selection as a linebacker for the Wildcats. Briggs finished his college career with 308 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 36 tackles for losses, three interceptions, 10 passes deflected, five forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 33 games at strong side linebacker.

Professional career

The Chicago Bears selected Briggs in the third round (68th overall) of the 2003 NFL draft. Briggs was the 13th linebacker drafted in 2003.

On July 25, 2003, the Bears signed Briggs to a four-year, $2.06 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $690,000. Throughout training camp, Briggs competed to be a starting outside linebacker against veteran Bryan Knight. Head coach Dick Jauron named Briggs a backup outside linebacker to start his rookie season, behind Bryan Knight and Warrick Holdman.

He made his professional regular season debut during the Chicago Bears' season-opener at the San Francisco 49ers and made one solo tackle as they lost 49–7. On October 5, 2003, Briggs earned his first career start and recorded one solo tackle during a 24–21 win against the Oakland Raiders in Week 4. In Week 9, Briggs collected a season-high 11 combined tackles (seven solo) during a 12–10 loss at the Detroit Lions. On December 7, 2003, Briggs recorded nine combined tackles (seven solo), deflected two passes, and intercepted a pass which he returned for the first touchdown of his career during a 34–21 loss at the Green Bay Packers in Week 13. Briggs made his first career interception off a pass by Packers' quarterback Brett Favre and returned it for a 45-yard touchdown during the first quarter. He finished his rookie season in 2003 with 78 combined tackles (65 solo), four passes defended, one interception, and one touchdown in 16 games and 13 starts.

In 2004, he made 126 tackles and was elected as a second alternate to the Pro Bowl.

In 2005, Briggs was selected to represent the National Football Conference in the 2006 Pro Bowl.

Briggs engaged the Bears for a contract extension prior to the 2006 NFL season. After the two sides reached an impasse, Briggs refused to attend the team's voluntary workouts and missed part of training camp. He was subsequently demoted in favor of Leon Joe but earned back his starting position. During the season, Briggs was a major contributor to the Bears' defense that reached Super Bowl XLI. He recorded two interceptions, four forced fumbles, two interceptions, one sack, and a career high 134 total tackles. Briggs was selected to play in the 2007 Pro Bowl, but declined the invitation because of an injured foot.

Briggs and the Bears failed to reach a long-term contract extension as the 2007 season approached. The Bears instead placed a franchise tag on Briggs, which guaranteed him $7.206 million for the next season. Briggs was dissatisfied with the move, commenting, "I am now prepared to sit out the year if the Bears don't trade me or release me, I've played my last snap for them. I'll never play another down for Chicago again." The Washington Redskins inquired about acquiring Briggs and Chicago's 31st overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft for Washington's 6th overall pick. He skipped the team's voluntary and mandatory spring training camp sessions out of protest. Despite his comments, Briggs played for the Bears during the 2007 season, where he accrued 140 total tackles and earned his third Pro Bowl selection.

The Bears re-signed Briggs to a six-year, $36 million contract on March 1, 2008.

On September 2, 2011, Briggs and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, formally asked the Bears organization for a trade, with three years left on his six-year contract. The request came after Briggs asked the Bears for a raise.

Briggs made the 2012 Pro Bowl team, but was unable to play due to an ankle injury.

On April 11, 2012, Briggs was given a one-year extension, extended his contract through 2014. In week 7 of 2013 against the Washington Redskins, Briggs suffered a fracture in his shoulder. He rejoined the Bears in week 16, a 54–11 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Briggs recorded 24 tackles and one interception during the 2014 NFL season. After starting the season as the Bears' weak-side linebacker, Briggs was injured during week 5 and missed three games. He commented that his future with the team was in jeopardy, as he was in the final year of his contract. Briggs returned to play four more games, but injured his groin muscle during a week 13 game against the Detroit Lions. The Bears subsequently placed Briggs on their injury reserve list.

Briggs became a free agent but remained unsigned through the offseason. He announced his retirement on September 2, 2015.

NFL statistics

Year Team GP COMB TOTAL AST SACK FF FR FR YDS INT IR YDS AVG IR LNG TD PD 2003 CHI 16 78 65 13 0.0 0 0 0 1 45 45 45 1 4 2004 CHI 16 126 102 24 0.5 0 0 0 1 38 38 38 1 10 2005 CHI 16 107 83 24 2.0 3 2 0 2 30 15 20 1 11 2006 CHI 16 134 113 21 1.0 4 1 0 2 18 9 18 0 9 2007 CHI 14 102 83 19 2.0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2008 CHI 16 110 90 20 0.5 1 2 21 3 12 4 9 0 11 2009 CHI 15 118 93 25 2.5 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 5 2010 CHI 15 89 76 13 2.0 2 1 0 2 1 1 1 0 7 2011 CHI 16 105 86 19 0.0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 2012 CHI 16 103 74 29 1.5 2 0 0 2 110 55 74 2 11 2013 CHI 9 71 51 20 3.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 2014 CHI 8 35 24 11 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 3 Career 173 1,174 936 238 15.0 16 7 32 16 256 17 74 5 86

Personal life In August 2007, Briggs crashed his new Lamborghini Murcielago into a light pole. He then left the scene of the accident and reported his car stolen. He was charged with leaving the scene of an accident. He was also cited for failure to give immediate notice of an accident and improper lane usage.

Briggs currently serves as a Bears analyst for NBC Sports Chicago's Football Aftershow, working alongside host Ruthie Polinsky and former teammate Alex Brown, and former Bears head coach Dave Wannstedt.

Briggs is a lifelong comic book reader and fan. In 2020, alongside Kyle Higgins and Danilo Beyruth, he co-created The Trap, a science fiction original graphic novel, on Kickstarter, which was set to be published in 2021.